When it comes to managing the technology-infused classroom, I’m pretty old school. There are many options for classroom-management software — allowing a teacher to view student screens instantly, for example — but I’ve never used them. I’ve found that the same strategies that work in a traditional classroom environment work in classrooms using technology: teachers circulating around the room; no-to-minimal lag time between activities; frequent student check-ins, etc. But there are some specific steps you can take to ensure students stay focused and engaged in their technology work.

1. Before you turn on any equipment, do two things: (a) Devise rules (collaboratively created, if possible) for everyone to follow. Display or hand out these rules and refer to them often; (b) Conduct a survey to determine your students’ tech exposure. You’ll learn what you need to teach and what you can skip, and you will identify stronger students who can help in the classroom.

2. Give leadership roles to these stronger students, whether in groups or individually, and offer them some incentive for being tech assistants. Having tech assistants frees you up to truly facilitate. If student skills are roughly similar, you can create a rotation system to give all students the chance to assist.

3. Seat students so all screens face outward. This way, you can quickly view what students are doing. Don’t stay latched to your own computer; frequently walk around the room and look over students’ shoulders. If students know you’ll be looming, they’ll be less tempted to veer off course.

4. Give directions before students are logged on; don’t compete with the screen. If you need to get students’ attention while they’re working, use an agreed-upon signal. In my classroom, “lids down!” is a frequent command. Students close or partially shut their laptops, and I can see they’re with me. (It’s also easy to see who still has their computers open and might not be paying attention.)

5. Check your online resources ahead of time before assigning them. Are all links working and accessible on the DOE filter? Such a pre-check prevents lag time and/or searching for a replacement on the fly. Do any inappropriate resources pop up or is any inappropriate material linked from any resource you assign? Don’t make it easier for students to get distracted or find unsuitable materials.

6. Always keep track of which students are using which pieces of equipment. It can be a simple sign-out sheet or you can circulate and check in while students are working. If you’re working on a multiday project, students may need to sign out the same equipment to continue. And if something goes wrong or breaks, you’ll know who was responsible.

7. Ask students to complete something every time they use technology — even if it’s a simple exit slip. In this way, students will have an incentive to use their time wisely to complete their work. It’s a good idea to share or display the tech work that your students complete, even if it’s not at a finished stage. There are programs that allow you to share screens, or you can simply do a quick gallery walk.

8. Ban rule-breakers from using technology. Make them work with paper instead — it’s a great motivator. (Be prepared in advance to have printed materials available.)

These steps will become second nature the more you work with technology. The more confident you are as a classroom manager, the more successful you’ll be implementing these procedures in your classroom — and the more time your students will have on task.

Sandy Scragg is an English teacher and instructional technology specialist at Emma Lazarus HS in Manhattan.